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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

European Explorers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Tudors: Who, What, When and Why

For Teachers 6th - 8th
It may sound like the making of a daytime soap opera, but it isn't. It is a timeline that describes the many wives, struggles, kings, queens, and explorers that made up the Tudor Dynasty. You can click on the timeline to progress through...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students research famous explorers. In this exploration age lesson, students research the accomplishments of John Cabot, James Cook, Francis Drake, Martin Frobisher, and Henry Hudson. Students use their research...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Search for the Northwest Passage

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders listen to lectures and research the motivations and history of the Spanish, French and English explorers searching for the Northwest Passage to India. They trace routes on maps and consider how these explorers helped shaped...
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Letters Patents of King Henry Vii Granted Unto John Cabot

For Students 9th - 10th
A copy of Henry VII's letter granting John Cabot permission to explore the New World and claim what he finds for England. Difficult to read, but an important primary source document.
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Handout
Other

The History of Maine

For Students 9th - 10th
A nicely organized, detailed history of the state of Maine.
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Website
British Library

British Library:northwest Passage: Early Approaches, a Historical Account

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the early attempts to find a way through the Northwest Passage. Included are portraits and early maps of the explorers.
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Website
British Library

British Library: The Search for the Northwest Passage

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Detailed third grade lessons help students understand what skills and knowledge were required in order to become an explorer. Includes specific lessons on John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson.
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Website
British Library

British Library: The Search for a Northwest Passage

For Students 9th - 10th
Historical overviews and associated images that document the search, by European explorers, for the elusive Northwest Passage through the North American continent to the Pacific. Discusses, among others, the explorations of Cabot,...
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Unit Plan
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Explorers of Canada

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from Enchanted Learning has a listing and information on the major explorers of Canada. Many of these men came to Canada from France over different times. Pictures are provided along with links to additional information.
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Primary
Other

Canadiana: Cabot Discoverer of North America

For Students 9th - 10th
The full text chapter of the book "JOHN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA AND HIS SON SEBASTIAN," published in 1896. A page by page reproduction.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: John Bull and Uncle Sam

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of an exhibit that talks about the British exploration and settlement of America.
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Website
Curated OER

Cbc: Adventurers and Mystics: Europe and the New World

For Students 9th - 10th
From the CBC television series about Canadian history comes this summary of the English and French search for a Northwest Passage. Find out how these explorations laid the basis for their claims in the New World.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Europe's North South Conflicts Reach the Americas

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay detailing early English and French exploration and settlement in the New World to challenge Spanish control.
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Unit Plan
Other

All About Explorers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about historic world explorers...with embedded false information. It was designed by teachers to help their students discern truthful information from false information.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Britain in the New World

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the early English explorers and find out why other countries did much more early exploration than the British. The defeat of the Spanish Armada turned the tide. Discover why the English now could explore and plant colonies.
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Whiteboard
SMART Technologies

Smart: Exploring Explorers

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This is a lesson activity which is written to engage visual and kinesthetic learners in their study on explorers: Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, Erik the Red, Vasco Da Gama, John Cabot, Marco Polo, and Ferdinand Magellan.
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Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: John Cabot: Voyage to North America, 1497

For Students 9th - 10th
Letters from Cabot to different people in his life that explain his exploration and his discoveries.
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Website
The History Place

The History Place: Early Colonial Era

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides a timeline of significant events between (1000-1700) win the discovery and colonization of the New World.
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Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: John Cabot

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of John Cabot (1450-1499), an explorer who made the first English voyage to North America. His voyage in 1497 gave England a claim to the mainland of North America and led to the founding of the English colonies in America....
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Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Sebastian Cabot

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Sebastian Cabot (1484-1557), the second son of English explorer John Cabot. He sailed to North America and explored its eastern coastline. He also made a voyage to South America. This site has a Google widget that will...
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Website
American Indian Heritage Foundation

Abenaki: indians.org: Indigenous Peoples' Literature

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn more about the Abenaki tribe of Native Americans by checking out this site. Find out about the story "Strange Origin of Corn."
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Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: John Cabot Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Cabot, the second European to find North America (after Christopher Columbus).
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Handout
Other

National Maritime Museum: Sea and Ships: John and Sebastian Cabot

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about John Cabot and Sebastian Cabot provided in a question-and-answer format.